Zones
Fine-tune, Zones, and the Zone tool (Z)
A zone changes the pattern inside an area. A clear zone quietens it, for example behind a headline. A boost zone makes it stronger. Text position makes a clear zone for you; add more for anything else.
Zone types
Add a zone from Add zone in Fine-tune or the bar above the canvas, or draw one with the Zone tool. With the Zone tool, drag on an empty part of the canvas to draw a zone of the type you chose last.
| Ellipse | An oval, good for clearing behind a headline. |
| Rectangle | A box, with rounded corners if you like. |
| Band | A strip across the whole artboard, at any angle. Good for quietening one half. |
| Edges | A frame around the artboard, like a vignette. |
| Polygon | Any outline: click to place points, then press Enter or click the first point to finish. |
Effect
Clear quietens the pattern; Boost strengthens it, up to twice the strongest-shape setting. Switch between them in the bar above the canvas while a zone is selected.
Intensity
How strong the effect is at the core. A clear zone at 100% removes the pattern completely; at 40% shapes keep 60% of their opacity.
Feather
How soft the edge is. 0 is a hard edge. 0.5 gives the full effect in the inner half, then a gradual fade. 1 fades all the way from the centre.
Falloff
The shape of that fade. Smooth eases at both ends, Linear fades at a steady rate, Ease in keeps the edge strong for longer and Ease out fades fast near the core.
Affects
What the zone changes, in any combination. Opacity fades shapes. Density drops shapes out, so fewer appear. Size shrinks them, down to the smallest size you set, which gives a halftone look with any shape.
When zones overlap
Multiply stacks the effects of overlapping zones, so two 60% clear zones clear more where they meet. Strongest uses only the strongest clear zone and the strongest boost zone at each point.
Measure each shape at
Centre judges each shape by the zone's effect at its centre. Smooth averages five points across the shape, which makes the fade look smoother when shapes are large compared with the zone.
Working with zones on the canvas
- The selected zone shows a dashed outline, a dotted inner outline where the feather begins, eight resize handles and a round rotation handle. Drag inside it to move it.
- Hold Shift to keep proportions while resizing, or Alt to resize from the centre. Hold Shift while rotating to snap to 15°.
- Hold Alt and scroll over a zone to change its intensity. Arrow keys nudge it 1 px, or 10 px with Shift.
- Press M for the heat map: red where the pattern is cleared, blue where it is boosted. It shows the zones without the randomness of the pattern.